Stop for elevator gates



July 3, 1934. H MOYER 1,965,200

STOP FOR ELEVATOR GATES Filed March 8, 1934 5-Sheets-Sheet l WWQ%ZA JJ lam L Y? C I L I N V EN TOR:

W1 TNESSES:

BY $2 6L. mm W ATTORNEYS.

fwmiclin 71734215155 July 3, 1934. J F H MOYER 1,965,200

STOP FOR ELEVATOR GATES Filed March 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIC5I INVENTOR- Wl TN 55555 Franklin fiiflbya",

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July 3, 1934.

Filed March 8, 1954 5 Sheets-S heet 5 FIG. W

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By W ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 3, 1934 UTE STATES 1%) Claims.

This invention relates to stop devices useful more particularly in connection with elevators to prevent the sliding gates on the elevator cars, as well as those for the wall openings at floor 5 lan lings, from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the cars, or while freight is being loaded or unloaded.

The present invention is especially concerned with elevator gate stop devices of a kind typified in a previous patent application Serial No. 678,039, filed by me on June 28, 1933, wherein a gate arresting member is projectable from a normally retracted inactive position within the elevator car, to active position crosswise of the edges of the elevator gates after the latter have been opened upon arrival of the elevator car at a floor landing. With the stop device of this former application, it was necessary for the operative, before restarting the elevator car after having brought the same to rest at a floor landing, to

manually retract the arresting member to its normal position.

The chief aim of my present invention is to render stop devices of the sort referred to semiautomatic, or in other words, to provide for selfretraction of the gate arresting members from their active to their normal position within the elevator car upon easement of the gates preparatory to closure and restarting of. the elevator.

In connection with an elevator gate stop device having the above indicated attribute, it is a further object of my invention to provide improved actuating facilities for the projection of the gate arresting member from its normal to its active position.

Still other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will be manifest from the detailed description following of the drawings, wherein Fig. I is a diagrammatic view showing the plan section of an elevator equipped with my improved gate stop means.

Fig. II is a fragmentary section, with the gate stop in its active position, taken as indicated by the arrows II-II in Fig. I and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. III is a View on a still larger scale, partly in elevation. and partly in section, showing the device with its arresting member in the normal or inoperative position.

Fig. IV is a plan section of the stop, taken as indicated by the arrows IV-IV in Fig. II.

Fig. V is a fragmentary detail sectional view, showing an adjusting means embodied in the 5 stop.

Fig. VI is a cross sectional view, taken as indicated by the arrow VI-VI in Fig. III.

Fig. VII is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through an elevator fitted with an alternative form of my improved gate stop means.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary detail section taken as indicated by the arrows VIII-VIII in Fig. VII, and drawn to larger scale; and

Fig. IX is a fragmentary detail section taken as indicated by th arrows IXIX in Fig. VIII. 55

In Figs. I, II and VII of these illustrations, the numeral 10 indicates an elevator car, which, as usual, has an entrant opening 11 at the front for registry with th door opening 12 in the elevator shaft wall 13 at each floor landing. Also, after customary practice, the elevator car 1%) is provided with a horizontally-sliding collapsible safety gate i l, and the door opening 12 in the wall 13 with a horizontally-sliding door 15 composed in this instance of two lapping sections.

The form of my novel gate stop means comprehensively designated 16 in Figs. I-VI of the drawings comprises a bracket piece 17 which is secured to the floor 18 of the elevator car 10 adjacent one edge or" the entrant opening 11 of the car, by means of screws 19 passing through its apertured basal portion 20, see Fig. II more particularly. Pivotally connected by a transverse pin 21 to an upright ear 22 at one end of the bracket l7for up and down swinging movement, is an arresting member having in this instance the form of an arm 23 which is clevised at its fulcrumed end, as shown in Fig. IV, to span the ear 22, and which, for the sake of lightness is fashioned to open or hollow configuration. For a purpose later on explained, the arresting arm 23 is provided with a sheathing 24 of comparatively soft non-metallic material, preferably leather.

Upstanding from the basal portion 20 of the bracket piece 17 is a tubular projection 25 which serves as a guide for a pedal actuator in the form of a tubular plunger 26. The arresting arm 23, it will be noted, is operatively connected to the actuator plunger 26 by a pair of links 27, which, at one end, pivotally engage a pin 28 extending crosswise of said arm somewhat beyond its fulcrum center 21. At the other end, the links 27 engage a pin 29 which extends crosswise through diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 30 in the tubular guide projection 25 of the bracket piece and penetrates the plunger 26. Concealed within the hollow of the tubular guide projection 25 of the bracket 17 is a helical spring 31 which exerts upward pressure upon the cross pm 29 and thus normally maintains the pedal plunger actuator 26 yieldingly projected as in Fig. III with the arresting arm 23 in upright retracted position.

As shown in Figs. II, III and V, the actuator pedal plunger 26 is provided with a telescopicallyfitting head 32 having an axial screw portion 33 in engagement with threads interiorly of the upper end of said plunger. Moreover, as shown, the head 32 has an axial socket 34 in its top for reception and retainment of a shanked cap 35 of a resilient material like rubber. By means of a set screw 36, the head can be fixed against rotation relative to the pedal plunger 26 after adjustment for a purpose presently explained.

The manner of use of the above described form of my elevator gate stop is as follows:

Upon arrival of the elevator car 10 at a floor landing and opening of the gates 14, 15, the operator places his foot on the plunger pedal actuator 26 and in depressing the same, causes the arresting arm to be swung downward from the normal retracted upright position shown in dotted lines in Figs. I and II, to the active position crosswise of the edges of the opened gates shown in full lines. The operator thereupon releases his grasp upon the gates 14, 15, thereby permitting them to move forward into contact with the latch arm 23, which, by frictional action of its sheathing 24 with said gates, is maintained in its active position in opposition to the spring 31. Preparatory to restarting the elevator, the operator, by a slight push, eases the gates 14, 15 to free the arresting arm 23, which, upon being released, is immediately swung back automatically to its normal upright retracted position by the spring 31. During such retractive movement, the sheathing 24 serves to deaden the sound of the impact of the arresting arm with the upstanding plunger guide projection 25 of the bracket 17 in a manner readily understandable from Figs. III and VI. As shown in Fig. II, the outward swing of the arresting arm 23 is limited by contact of the lower edge of the head 32 of the actuator plunger 26, with the top edge of the guide 25. Thus, by adjustment of the head 25 between the positions shown in full and dot-and-dash lines in Fig. V, the swing of the arresting arm 23 may be increased or decreased in adapting the gate stop device to different requirements of practice.

In the modification of my invention delineated in Figs. VII-IX, the gate arresting member has the form of a bolt 23a which is engaged, with capacity for axial sliding movement, in suitable bearings of a hollow housing 17a secured to the top edge of the opening 11 of the elevator car 10 by means of clamp screws 19a. As shown, the arresting bolt 23a has rack teeth 37 to mesh with the teeth of a spur gear 38 within the hollow of the housing 17a. From Fig. VIII it will be noted that the gear 38 is secured to a sheave 39 which is freely rotatable between a pair of spaced collars 40, 41 on a shaft 42 held against rotation in a base 43 of said housing by a transverse cotter pin 44. Disposed in the axial cavity of the sheave 39 is a volute torsion spring 45 whereof the inturned inner end 46 engages a slot 47 in the shaft 42, see Fig. IX, and whereof the out-turned outer end 48 engages a peripheral notch 49 of said sheave. An actuating pull cord or chain 26:: wound in part about the sheave 39, has its free end suspended from said sheave and provided with a finger grasp ring 50.

The operation of the modified embodiment of my invention is as follows: Upon arrival of the elevator car 10 at a floor landing and opening of the gates 14 and 15, the actuating cord or chain 26a is pulled, with attendant rotation of the gear wheel 38 against the action of the torsion spring 45 and consequent projection of the arresting bolt 23a crosswise of the edges of said gates as shown in Fig. VII. Upon release of the gates 14 and 15, the latter, in moving forward engage the arresting bolt 23a which is thereafter maintained in projected position by cooperation of a head 51 at the outer end thereof with the gate 15. When the gates 14 and 15 are subsequently eased preparatory to closure and re-starting of the elevator, the arresting bolt 23a is immediately retracted automatically to its normal position (indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. VII) through reverse rotation of the gear wheel 38 under the action of the volute spring 45. The tension of the volute spring 45 may be adjusted by removing the cotter pin 44 and turning the shaft 42, for which purpose the latter is provided at one end with a screw driver slot 52. Incident to such adjustment, a collar 53 on the slotted end of the shaft 42 prevents said shaft from being pushed through the boss 43 of the housing 17a.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A stop for elevator gates comprising a gatearresting member on the elevator car; means whereby, after the gates have been opened upon arrival of the elevator at a floor landing, said gatearresting member may be projected from a normal retracted position, to a position crosswise of the gates to prevent the latter from closing while passengers are entering or leaving or while freight is being loaded or unloaded; and means operative upon subsequent easement of the gates preparatory to closure and to restarting of the elevator, to automatically retract the gate-arresting member to normal position.

2. A stop for elevator gates comprising an arresting arm pivoted on the elevator car and normally occupying a retracted idle position; and pedal means whereby, after the gates have been opened upon arrival of the elevator at a floor landing, said arm may be swung to active position to prevent the gates from closing, while passengers are entering or leaving or while freight is being loaded or unloaded.

3. A stop for elevator gates comprising an arresting arm pivoted on the elevator car and normally occupying a retracted upright idle position; and pedal means, whereby, after the gates have beenopened upon arrival of the elevator at a floor landing said arm may be swung to active position horizontally crosswise of the gate edges to prevent thegates from closing, while passengers are entering or leaving or while freight is being loaded or unloaded.

4. A stop for elevator gates comprising an arresting arm pivoted an the elevator car and normally occupying an idle retracted position; pedal means whereby, after the gates have been opened upon arrival of the elevator at a floor landing, said arm may be swung to active position crosswise of the gate edges to prevent the gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving or while freight is being loaded or unloaded; and means operative upon subsequent easement of the gates to automatically retract the arresting arm to normal position preparatory to restarting of the elevator car.

5. Stop means for elevator gates comprising an arresting arm pivoted on the elevator car and having a covering of frictional and sound-deadening material; yielding means for normally maintaining the arresting arm retracted in idle position; and pedal means whereby, after the gates have been opened upon arrival of the elevator at a fioor landing, said arm may be swung toactive position crosswise of the gates to be so held. in opposition to the yielding means by contact of its frictional covering with the gate edges until released subsequently by easement of the gates preparatory to closure and restarting of the elevator.

6. A stop for elevator gates comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the elevator car; an arresting arm pivoted to the bracket; and a spring-pressed pedal plunger slidably guided in the bracket and operatively connected by a link with the arresting arm, whereby, upon depression of said plunger after arrival of the elevator at a fioor landing and opening of the gates, said arm is swung to active position crosswise of the gate edges to hold said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving or while freight is being loaded or unloaded.

7. A latch for elevator gates according to claim 6 including an adjustable stop to engage with the bracket, thereby to limit the movement of the pedal plunger and the swing of the arresting arm.

8. A latch for elevator gates according to claim 6 including an adjustable screw cap on the pedal plunger to engage with the bracket, thereby to limit the movement of said plunger and the swing of the arresting arm.

9. A stop for elevator gates comprising an arresting bolt confined to axial sliding movement on the elevator car; actuating means whereby, after the gates have been opened upon arrival of the elevator at a floor landing, the arresting bolt may be projected from a normal retracted position, to a position crosswise of the gates to prevent them from closing While passengers are entering or leaving or while freight is being loaded or unloaded; and means operative upon subsequent easement of the gates preparatory to closure of the latter and to restarting of the elevator, to automatically retract the arresting bolt to normal position.

10. A stop for elevator gates comprising an arresting bolt confined to axial sliding movement on the elevator car; a toothed wheel in engagement with rack teeth on the bolt; a sheave se cured to the wheel and freely rotative about a fixed supporting axis; an actuating pull cord or chain partially wrapped about the sheave, whereby, after the gates have been opened upon arrival of the elevator at a floor landing, the arresting bolt may be projected from a normal retracted position to a position crosswise of the gates to prevent them from closing while passengers are entering or leaving or while freight is being moved; and yielding means operative upon subsequent easement of the gates, to reversely rotate the gear wheel and thereby cause automatic retraction of the arresting bolt to normal position.

FRANKLIN H. MOYER. 

